Cover for manholes and analogous devices



June 12, 11923.

T. J. BURTON COVER FOR MANHOLES AND ANALOGOUS DEVICES Filed June 26, 1922 Patented dune l2, i923.

TATES Lassen THOMAS JAMES BURTON, OEIMURIPHYSBORO, ILLINOIS.

COVER FOR MANHOLES AND ANALOGOUS DEVICES.

Application filed June 26, 1922. Serial No. 571,066.

To all whom may concern: I

Be it known that I, THOMAS J. BURTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mun physboro, in the county of Jackson'and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Covers for Manholes and Analogous Devices; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

his invention relates to an improved cover for manholes and analogous devices and the particular improvements therein reside in a means for locking the cover plate to the base ring or curb of the manhole or analogous device.

The improved locking means is mounted upon the unexposed side of the cover plate but may be manually operated by means of a handle located on the exposed side of the plate. be swung to an inoperative and out-of-theway position and when in this position, it is locked so that the locking means between the cover plate and the base ring or curb cannot be accidentally unlocked.

The cover plate is of such construction that it may be made economically by molding or casting and the parts of the locking means are of simple construction so that very little machine work will be necessary in con structing the parts so that they can be assembled and fitted together. The device is therefore of simple, strong, durable and in expensive construction, which are highly desirable features in a device of this character.

-The novelty of the invention resides in the various details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts which are hereinafter fully described and claimed and shown in the accompanying drawing.

In the accompanying drawing which forms a part of this specification:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a manhole base ring or curb and a cover plate therefor constructed so as to embody the principles of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a central vertical sectional view through the base ring or curb and cover plate taken substantially on the plane indicated by the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and illustrating the locking means in locked position and the operating handle in inoperative position.

This handle is mounted so that it can Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the cover plate; and I Fig. 4: is a central vertical sectional view of the cover plate, showing the operating handle for the locking means in operative position.

It is to be understood that the principles of the present invention may be embodied in connect-ion with manholes, coalhol es, cis tern tops, water covers, gas meter covers, and analogous devices, but for illustrative purposes, an embodiment in connection with a manhole cover has been selected, v

In the illustrated. embodiment of the invention, the numeral 1 designates the base ring or curb of a manhole. This is of the usual construction, being cast in one piece, and is intended to be embedded in the. earth,

particularly in a street or road, so that its upper edge will be flush with the surface of the street or road. Formed integrally with the base ring or curb 1 is a flange 2. This flange 2 is located a slight distance below the upper edge of the ring 1. and it projects inwardly therefrom so as to form an annular shoulder upon which a cover plate may rest.

In the drawing, the numeral 8 represents a cover plate which is constructed so as to rest upon the annular sh the flange 2 of the base ring or curb 1. When the cover plate 3 is in place upon the ring or curb 1, its upper side will be substantially flush with the upper edge of the ring or curb. The plate 3 is preferably made by casting or molding. Its central portion is oi. increased thickness and is provided with a hole 4. If desired, the plate3 may be reinforced by means of ribs 5 which extend radially from its central thickened portion to its edge. Depending from the lower side of the plate 8 at diametrically opposite points are lugs'6 having holes 7 therein.

Mounted on the lower side of the plate 3 is an improved means for locking the latter to the base ring or curb 1. This means preferably consists of a bar 8, to the ends of which are pivotally connected one of the ends of a pair of bolts 9. These bolts 9 pass through the holes 7 formed in the lugs 6 which depend from the lower side of the plate 3 and when projected, they have their outer ends disposed beyond the flange 2 of the base ring or curb 1 so that they will prevent the cover plate 3 from being removed oulder formed by ed by stop lugs 8 from the ring or curb 1. However, when the bolts 9 areretracted, the cover plate 8 can be removed from the base ring or curb 1. Retracting movement of the bolts 9 is 'efiectcarried by the cover plate 3 and which are engageable by the bar 8.

. stem 10 carries a ban is in the form of a loop or bail and is piv- The projecting "and retracting of the bolts 9 is effected by turning of the bar 8. In order to do this, the bar 8 is carried upon the lower end of a stem l0-which extends through hole 4 formed in the central portion of the plate 3. Theupper end'o'f the dle 11. This handle 11 otally connected to the stem so that it can be extended longitudinallyof the latter and the stem.

also so that it can be entended laterally of 3 be disposed out of the way and at the same time it will be locked so that it cannotbe turned and the bolts ed. When, however,

curb 1, it isonly necessaryto swing the handle 11 upwardly so asto bring it lon- I gitudinally with respect to the stem 10, then to pull upwardly upon the handle until it is "entirely withdrawn from the recess or groove 12 and finally toturn the 'hand'le so as to turn thebar 8 and retract the bolts 9. It will therefore be seen that the stemlO 'is not only turnably mounted in the [hole t in the cover plate 3, but is also slidably mounted in said hole.

From.-the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing,-it will be seenthat the device is of very simple construction and can be made economically since very little if any machine work will be necessary in order to make its various parts properly fit together.

Furthermore, it will be realizedthatthe device isfhighly desirable because the locking 9 accidentally retractit is desired to unlock the cover plate 3 from the base ring or receiving said handle when ally with respect to said stem, said groove afiixed my signature.

means is such that it maybe easilyoperated but when once looked, it cannot be accidentally unlocked.

Since various changes in form, proportion, and in the minor details of construction may be madewithout departing from the principle or sacrificing any or" the advantages of the invention, it is to be understood that such may be made within the meaning and scope of the appended claims.

,. WVhat is claimed is:

1. A cover ior'lmanholes and analogous devices comprising a plate having a hole.

extending therethrough, locking means mounted on one side of said plate, a stem extending through said hole I and turnably and slidably mounted therein, said stem being connected at one end tosaid locking same, and. a handle means for operating the said handle being for turning said stem, pivotally connected to stem so as to be extended either on-a plane of the axis of the'latter or'laterally'thereof, said'plate having "its outer side provided with a recess'for receivingsaid handle when swung laterally with said recess being as to prevent said handle and-therefore {said the other end of said respect to said stem, located and constructed so stem from turning until said'jhandle-is entirely removed outof said recess. 7 2. A devices comprising a plate'having a hole extending. therethrough, locking means mounted upon the plate, 'a'stem extending through said hole andturnably and slidably mounted therein;

said stem being connected at its lower end to said locking means for operating the "same, and a Ihandleifor turningsaid stem; said handle being pivotally' connected 'to the upper end of said stem so as'to be extended either on a plane of the axis of the latter or laterally thereof, said platebeing provided at its upper side with a grooveior swung laterbeing shaped to, conformv to the shapeoi said handle and being located so as to ,prevent said handle and therefore said stem from turning until said handle is entirely removed from saidgroove. In testimony whereof I have hereunto THOMAS JAMES BURTON};

cover for .manhole's'and analogouslower side of said 

